Sunday, 9 December 2012

...squirrel GIVEAWAY!!!!....


...being in a festive mood...
...the vanilla squirrel is having a christmas
GIVEAWAY!!!

...included in the giveaway is
..a cute lavender toadie..
 (made with vintage quilty fabric, ticking and buttons...)
..and..
..a soft gingerbread man..
(handmade also with vintage fabrics and buttons)
complete with his own toy soldier!


to enter all you need to do is be a follower
and tell me what you like best about the christmas season....


...a winner will be picked at random 
on December 14th!

....now back to the decorating....!
..happy christmas one and all x




Thursday, 6 December 2012

....hangover cure.....

...oh dear naughty squirrel...


...unused as you are to gin fizz....
...it is not advisable to drink too many..
...too quickly....
(note to self regarding forthcoming christmas festivities)


...so the day started somewhat shakily..
...with the thought of impending work
not altogether a welcome one...

..but then an unexpected parcel arrived
to distract my thumping head...
...some vintage toadstool decorations,
buttons, material.....


..sometimes mothers do know best...
...and mine had packaged up
some special treats...
perfect timing!


...then a trusty 'melon' arrived!
..she quickly deduced i was not fit
for work...
...and reminded me that ellie
was opening a new shop in dorchester today..
..hurrah for ellie! 


..by this point i was feeling decidedly better!

....so off we went...

...gorgeous christmassy tins...


...and lots of lovely 'jelly jam' treats..


 ...i have been loving this alpine fabric
on ellie's blog for a while now...
...so was excited to invest in a little purse!

....we also visited dorchester's

....oh me oh my....
..it's HUGE and FABULOUS....
...and freezing cold!
(thermals and mitts highly recommended)


..we had heart palpitations..
(not alcohol induced)
...and were unusually controlled...
(it being christmas and all that)

..but a £4 chad valley bun...
.. in need of love and affection... 
..and squirrel restoration...
was not to be missed!
(sorry beautiful straw lamb...but i had to be strong)
(probably see you next week if i can't sleep tonight) 

..so as you can tell...
...my cure was a natural one!
...much better now...
 thank-you one and all 
X

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

....ho ho ho.......

....i think there must be a lucky
christmas fairy watching over me at the moment....


...i keep finding amazing bargains in 
my local charity shops....
...this funny little chap was 10p!
...i loved his little face and the flourish of a blue boa!


...and these frosty vintage baubles were
25p!


...but most exciting of all was this tiny
dala horse still holding onto his original
'nils olsson' label.....
...also 25p!!!!!
..he was hiding in a big box of plastic toys just waiting to be rescued...
...my heart did a little flip of joy!

..if only all my christmas shopping could be done this way!
x



Monday, 3 December 2012

...but once a year.....


...i am treated to a visit...
...to the Bath christmas market...


...Bath is always a favourite place..
...but at christmas it is magical...


...little alpine huts 
adorned with fairy lights..
..huddle around the abbey..
...displaying their wares...


..we warmed ourselves with cups of spiced mulled wine....



..so excited to meet the real


..this lovely hut deservedly won 
'prize chalet 2012'



...and we managed to do some christmas shopping here too...


...oh and a little something for the tree..


....oh yes...
..and a little something for me...




..the christmas lights in the town are beautiful..
...and it was so festive as dusk was falling..


....just enough time for me to pop into one of my most adored shops...


..these cute candles are so unique
(definitely NOT for burning!!!)


..i also needed this donna wilson stocking...
...it was reduced so i thought it might be rude not to have it....



 ....such a happy day....


..let the festivities begin!
*****
....









Thursday, 29 November 2012

..movember.....

....i have to confess...
...i was a little concerned when toadie
 suggested joining in...



..but i think i quite like it!

Congratulations to everyone who got involved in movember

x


Sunday, 25 November 2012

....lost love.....

....when i was a little girl...
...my mummy made my toys...
....and one year.....
(to my absolute delight)


..she knitted me lamb chop.
i loved lamb chop...
..and now i had a real one...
...it was the best gift ever.

***

...but after many years,
 and many boxes in lofts later,
 lamb chop fell prey to mice....
....and along with many old childhood friends
...became a fond memory.


...i searched for another...
..even attempted to make one..
..but nothing came close..

***

....then last year...
..as if by some strange magic or destiny...
lamb chop returned!


my squirrel sister found lamb chop
with this wonderful label....
..it was the best gift ever..

...it really did provide a 
'nostalgic trip down memory lane'..
(..although not sure about the 'more mature disposition' bit!!?!)

...love reunited...
no more boxes in lofts lamb chop..
..promise. 
x


...keep safe and dry everyone..
...it's very wet out there!
x

Friday, 23 November 2012

....bloggy coffee....


......this morning i had a special date with some talented bloggy friends...
...the lovely... 

&

....we talked and talked about bloggy things..
...it was such a joy to meet at last...
...and the time flew by....


...fading grace even arrived bearing beautiful gifts for daisy and i...
...i love this gorgeous lavender bag...
...perfect for me....
...even though we had never met before!

...2 lattes later i had a bit of a 
caffeine buzz...
...the excitement of the crafty chit chat
...and the meeting of like minds...
..felt like we had shared a bottle of champagne!


...thank you both for such a special 
bloggy coffee
...and here's to the next one!
X

Thursday, 22 November 2012

...hello deer....




...having been totally swept up
in the 'woodland critter mania'
that is sweeping the country....



....this is my latest make..





...and this was one of those things
that just had to come home with me.....


...oh deer oh deer oh deer.
X



Monday, 19 November 2012

...oops.....




....in my quest for seeking out
the most glorious, original,crafty,
vintagey, christmas gifts for others....




.....i find that i just keep discovering
glorious, original,crafty,
vintagey,lovely gifts for myself!?!



...this has to stop....
....but i confess i am struggling....




..am i supposed to just walk on by...
...and pretend i haven't seen that basket winking at me?


(needed to hold ongoing christmas projects as it's green and therefore totally perfect for the cause).....




...am i to avoid all direct eye contact with etsy?
(..and therefore not be tempted by lovely things like these cute snowmen...
...made by adatine...
although this was restrained behaviour 
as i also have a yearning for her bandit foxes and postman rabbit!!)

...ok so here it is....

...i hereby publicly promise most solemnly...
...not to buy another single, darling
irresistible item for myself.... 


(unless i can't live without it)
X